Long Beach Police announce capture of head of Crip gang that 'terrorized' community

LONG BEACH - The alleged head of one of the city's oldest and most notorious street gangs is behind bars following a lengthy investigation into a series of shootings that included a 2009 killing, police announced Wednesday.

Police arrested a total of 16 suspected members of the Long Beach Baby Insane Crips gang, also known as "BIG," including its alleged leader, Sabrille Acklin, 29.

Acklin ran a criminal empire from his home in Rialto, calling the shots on everything from residential and commercial burglaries to murder, Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell said at an afternoon press conference.

"They were terrorizing everyone from individuals to retail establishments," the chief said.

It was the 2009 slaying of Frank Castro, 19, that helped police uncover a clear pattern of criminal enterprise and the gang's hierarchy. Authorities were eventually led to Acklin, who was booked on suspicion of accessory to murder in Castro's death and also charged with commercial burglary.

Castro was gunned down about 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2009, while walking near a liquor store in the 3600 block of Santa Fe Avenue.

Two other men - an 18-year-old and a 40-year-old, both of Long Beach - were also shot while walking with Castro, but survived.

Another alleged gang member, Johnney Smith, 22, of Long Beach, was booked on suspicion of murder in Castro's killing. Also captured were Acklin's top lieutenants, according to police: Kendale Gipson, 27, and Wynton White, 19, both of Long Beach.

Several crimes around the city eventually linked to the gang were initially difficult to investigate because some rival gangs were targeted and those victims were extremely uncooperative with police, McDonnell said.

A major break in the case came after LBPD Crime Lab experts were able to link ballistics from three separate shootings to the same weapons. Those results led police to a series of suspects, all BIG gang members, tied to 32 different crimes (both property and violent) carried out throughout Southern California. That includes 13 shootings in Long Beach between Nov. 19, 2009, and Dec. 2, 2011, the chief said.

The operation culminated this week with 27 search warrants served in about half a dozen cities, including Long Beach, Lynwood and San Pedro. Police also seized 10 guns.

Local police are now working with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office to seek charges against each of the 16 arrested gang members. Authorities may also seek federal charges against the gang's key leaders, the chief said.

Police are also asking for the public's help in linking the 16 suspects to a number of other incidents, from property to violent crimes, for which the men and women are also believed to be responsible, McDonnell said.

Anyone with information about the suspects, or who believes they are responsible for a crime, is urged to call the Gang and Violent Crime Division at 562-570-7250.